Bottle carrier



T. VANDER LUGT. JR

BOTTLE CARRIER April 13, 1954 Filed `June 25, 1951 INVENToR.

f/ d2" BY a ma AoR/vfx Mama; Vande/ Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE BOTTLE CARRIER Thomas Vander Lugt, Jr., Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle carrier.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a bottle carrier for paper bottles which may be engaged with a top part of a bottle or bottles and effectively support and provide a handle for carrying.

Second, to provide a collapsible carrier which may be quickly erected and applied to a bottle or bottles coacting therewith to constitute a unitary package.

Third, to provide a carrier having the above advantages which may be very economically produced, both in the matter of the amount of stock required and the manufacture thereof.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a carrier embodying my invention applied to a pair of bottles.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevational view, the bottles being partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical central longitudinal section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the carrier is formed.

In the accompanying drawing I-I represents a pair of paper bottles of rectangular section. These bottles are closed by folding parts of the Walls thereof, the ends or one pair of opposed walls being folded inwardly at 2 with the upper edges 3 of the infolded parts in lapping relation and the closure being completed by folding the flap 4 downwardly over the infolded parts. The

closure flap 4 is secured by means of the staple .5.

The bottles illustrated are a commercial type of paper bottle. The closure provides recesses 6 having upwardly converging top walls 'l and triangular inclined bottle walls 8. The carrier of my invention as illustrated is especially designed for carrying bottles of this type owing to the fact that they do not have any neck portions to be conveniently grasped. While the holder of my invention is especially desirable for carrying a plurality of bottles, it is also desirable for carrying a single bottle.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a body portion designated generally by the numeral 9 and comprising side members IIJ- I0 and end members I I-Il hingedly connected by means of the hinging scores l2, there being a sealing flap I3 at one end of the blank which is lapped upon and adhesively secured to the other end. The top side members I4 are hingedly connected at I5 to the upper edges of the body side members I0. As shown more particularly in Figure 5 bottle holder members designated generally by the numeral I6 are hingedly connected at their' bottom edges to the end meinbers I I and hingedly connected at their ends to the ends of the top side members` I4, preferably by double parallel scores I'I. The holder members have upwardly converging diagonal folding scores I8 extending from their lower corners.

The top side members have handle extensions I9 having hand openings 2li! therein, one of the handle members being provided with a flap 2I connected at the upper edge of the opening therein and adapted to be disposed through the opening in the other handle member as is shown in Fig. 1. The iiap constitutes a grip portion and also acts to hold the handle members in side by side relation for convenient grasping. Light scores 22 are desirably provided at the bottoms of the handle members to facilitate their being flexed to side by side position and to reduce the tendency for them to swing outwardly. The holder members being scored as described can be easily deflected into or inserted into the recesses in the bottles with the edges 23 of the holders in supporting engagement with the converging top portions 24 of the recesses. The triangular portions 25 of the holder members, defined by 35e-:the scores I8, rest upon or are supported by the outwardly inclined triangular bottom` portion 8 of the recesses.

In assembling the carrier with a pair of bottles i, the bottles are disposed in side by side relation with the outer recesses thereof facing outwardly in opposite directions. A carrier which is co1- lapsed for shipping and storing is erected and sleeved over the upper ends of a pair of bottles and the .holders engaged with the bottles merely by pushing inwardly on the triangular portions The double scores il facilitate the 25 thereof. folding of the holder members around the edges of the bottle closure as is illustrated in the drawing.

The handle members may then be brought into side by side relation and the ap 2l carried by one engaged through the handhold in the other providing a gripgof substantial width and also the flap acts to hold the handle members in side lby side relation. It will be understood that the carrier is dimensioned according to the bottles it is designed to carry and where it is to be applied to a single bottle it is properly dimensioned so that one of the holder members may be engaged in each recess of the bottle. However, the structure is particularly desirable where a pair of bottles are to be carried as they are more diicult to carry when the carrier is applied to the bottles and the bottles and the carrier constitute a unitary package. This is particularly desirable in self-serve stores as the customer can conveniently pick up and carry the package.

While the carrier is very securely engaged with the bottles it may also be quickly released therefrom merely by pulling the holders out of theA recesses. The load of the bottles on the carrier cannot disengage the holders from the bottles but tends to maintain the engagement.

I have illustrated and described my invention. in a highly practical commercial embodiment thereof. I have not` attempted to illustrate other adaptations andrembodiments as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claiml as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A collapsible carrier for bottles of rectangular section having top closures with outwardly facing recesses having upwardly converging top walls and outwardly inclined triangular bottom walls, comprisingV a band-like body consisting of hingedly connected side and end members and open at the bottom torbe sleeved upon thev upper ends of bottles disposed in side by side relation with recesses thereof opening endwise relative to Vthe carrier body, top side members hingedly connected to the upper edges of the body side members, and bottle holders hingedly connectedtothe upper edges ofthe body end members and to the ends of the top side members and having diagonal upwardly converging folding scores extending from their lower corners to their upper edges facilitating the folding of the holder members into the adjacent recesses of the bottles. in supporting engagement with the top. walls thereof, said top side members having handle extensions hingedly connected to their upper edges and projecting above the holder members, and the bottles engaged thereby, said handle members having aligned hand openings, one of the handle members having a flap connected to the upper edge of its opening and foldable through the opening of the Vother handle member providing a grip member andv acting to maintain the handle members in side by side erected relation.

2. A collapsible carrier for bottles of rectangular section having top closures with outwardly facing recesses having upwardly converging top walls and outwardly inclined triangular bottom walls, comprising a band-like body consisting of hingedly connected side and end members adapted and open at the bottom to be sleeved upon the upper ends of bottles disposed in side by side relation with recesses thereof opening endwise relative to the carrier body, top side members hingedly connected to the upper edges of the body side members, and bottle holders hingedly connected to the upper edges of the body end members and to the ends of the top side members and having diagonal upwardly converging folding scores extending from their lower corners to their upper edges facilitating the folding of the holder members into the adjacent recesses of the bottles in supporting engagement with the top walls.

thereof, said top side members having handle extensions hingedly connected to their upper edges and projecting above the holder members and the bottles engaged thereby.

3. A unitary package comprising bottles of rectangular section having top closures with outwardly facing recesses having converging top walls, and a carrier body comprising side and end members embracing the upper ends of the bottles with the bottles. disposed in side by side contacting relation and with recesses thereof opening endwise relative to the carrier body, said carrier body being open at the bottom thereof and said bottlesA projecting through the open end, said side members having top portions connected at their lower ends by bottle holders foldable into said recesses4 and into supporting engagement with their converging top walls, said side members having handle extensions on their upper edges projecting above the said holder members and the bottles within the carrier, said handle members having aligned hand openingstherein and one of them having a flap disposable through the opening in the other handle member providing a handle grip and acting to maintain the handle members in side by side erected relation.

4. A unitary package comprising bottles of rectangular section having top closures. with outwardly facing recesses having converging top' walls, and' a carrier body comprising side and end members embracing the upper ends of the bottles with the bottles disposed in side by side contacting relation andv with recesses thereof opening endwise relative to thev carrier body, said carrier body being open at the bottom thereof and saidV bottles projecting through the open end, said side members having top portions. connected at their 5. A carrier forv bottles having outwardly facing recesses having top. walls, a carrier body open at the bottom to.' receive the bottles therethrough and comprising sideand end'members, top side members connected to the upper edges of the-V body side members, and bottle holders hi-ngedly connected to the upper edges of the body end members and to the ends of the top side members and having diagonal upwardly converging folding scores facilitating the folding thereof 'into the adjacent recess of a bottle in supporting engage'- ment with the top wall thereof, said top Side members` having handle extensions on their upper edges, said handle members having alignedhand openings, one of the handle members having a ii'ap connected to the upper edge. of its opening and foldable through the opening of the otherV handle member providing a grip member and act'- ing to maintain the handle members in side by side erected relation. f

6. A carrier for bottles having outwardly facing recesses having top'walls, a carrierbody open at .A

the bottom tol receive the bottles therethrough and comprising side and end members, top side members connected to the upper edges of the body side members, and bottle holders hingedly connected to the upper edges of the body end members and to the lower ends of the top side K members and having diagonal upwardly converging folding scores facilitating the folding thereof into the adjacent recess of a bottle in supporting engagement with the top wall thereof,Y said tofpf side members having handle extensions on their upper edges.

7. A carrier for bottles having an outwardly facing recess having a top wall, a carrier body open at the bottom to receive a bottle therethrough and comprising side and end members, top side members connected to the upper edges of the body side members, and bottle holders connected to the upper edges of the body end members and to the lower ends of the top side members and foldable into the adjacent recess of a bottle in supporting engagement with the top wall thereof, said top side members having handle extensions on their upper edges, said handle members having aligned hand openings, one of the handle members having a flap connected to the upper edge of its opening and foldable through the opening of the other handle member-{providing a grip member and acting to maintain the handle members in side by side erected relation.

8. A carrier for bottles having an outwardly facing recess having a top wall, a carrienbody open at the bottom to receive a bottle therethrough and comprising side and end members, top side members connected to the upper-edges of the body side members, and bottle holders connected to the upper edges of the bcdyj end members and to the lower ends of the top side members and foldable into the adjacent recess of a bottle in supporting engagement with the top wall thereof, said top side members having handle extensions on their upper edges.

9. A carrier for bottles having an outwardly facing recess having a top Wall, a carrier body open at the bottom to receive a bottle therethrough and comprising side and end members, top side members connected to ithe upper edges of the body side members, and bottle holders connected to the upper edges of the body end members and to the lower ends of the top side members and foldable into the adjacent recess of a bottle in sup-porting engagement with the top wall thereof, and handle extensions connected to said carrier body.

10. A collapsible carrier for a bottle having an outwardly facing recess at the top thereof, the recess having upwardly converging top walls, a carrier open at the bottom to receive the bottle therethrough and comprising hingedly connected side and end members, the side members having inwardly deflectable top portions, and bottle holders hingedly connected to the lower ends of the top portions of the side members and having diagonal upwardly converging folding scores facilitating the folding of the holders into the outwardly facing recesses of the bottle and into supporting engagement with the walls thereof, said side top members having upwardly projecting handle extensions projecting above said holder members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,006,475 OReilley July 2, 1935 2,273,266 Himes Feb. 1'?, 1942 2,514,858 Gray July 11, 1950 2,522,950 Keith Sept. 19, 1950 

